According to a report from Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh is likely to be facing a four-game suspension this fall.
The suspension stems from Harbaugh providing what the NCAA is calling “false statements” during an investigation of the program. The original investigation was regarding four alleged Level II violations. One of those violations included having a dinner, a hamburger to be specific, with an unsigned commitment during a recruiting dead period – it was this violation in particular that it is believed Harbaugh provided “false statements”.
The alleged false statements that Harbaugh provided are considered a Level I violation, the highest level of violation – raising the scrutiny that Harbaugh is under from the NCAA and the level of potential punishment. Dellenger notes that Level I violations could result in six-game suspensions and recruiting restrictions.
However, Harbaugh has been working with the NCAA this offseason on coming to some sort of an agreement on his punishment.
Dellenger also states that the “agreement is an initial version of the negotiated resolution and is not yet finalized.” The resolution will need to be approved by the NCAA Committee on Infractions to be finalized, which could take some time to be reviewed and approved.
On top of Harbaugh’s suspension, offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore and tight ends coach Grant Newsome would both be suspended for one game, while former defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald, now with the Baltimore Ravens, would receive a one-year show-cause penalty.
The Wolverines would likely be fine if Michigan loses Harbaugh for their first four games of the 2023 season. The back-to-back Big Ten champions will start their season against East Carolina, UNLV, Bowling Green, and Rutgers – all four games are home games for the maize and blue.
To think this all started because Harbaugh had a burger with a commitment. That burger cost quite a bit, in retrospect.
Either way, with Harbaugh on the sidelines or not, the Wolverines kick off their 2023 season on September 2 at 12:00 p.m. against the East Carolina Pirates.